Wood BOE approves universal playgrounds plan
PARKERSBURG - The Wood County Board of Education has approved a plan to provide universal playgrounds at three area schools.
The new playground additions will make it possible for children with limited mobility or who rely on mobility aids such as wheelchairs to enjoy playground activities and equipment. The additions also are designed for use by all children, allowing them to play with their peers without limitations.
The nearly $600,000 plan was unanimously approved Tuesday and will use funds from the Wood County Schools’ excess levy to make improvements and install accessible equipment at Blennerhassett, Gihon and Jefferson elementary schools. Each school also will contribute $14,000 toward their playgrounds.
With the plan approved, installation of the three playground additions are expected to occur this summer.
Assistant Superintendent Christie Willis presented the universal playgrounds plan during Tuesday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting.
“Playgrounds provide an opportunity for students to have physical activity as well as social/emotional development,” she said. “It is important that our playgrounds provide these experiences for everyone.”
The plan is more than just making sections of the playground more accessible. Specialized equipment allows all children to play together, including students with mobility limitations.
The plans include installation of Monaco slides and activity panels, an inclusive Orbit playground spinner, a Cruiser rocker, a universal swing and an outdoor musical play area. The playgrounds also would be built on a poured surface rather than mulch to allow for easier access.
Playgrounds are a unique area in public education. Studies have shown play among peers helps children in a variety of ways - socially, physically and academically. Schools are required to provide elementary school playgrounds as well as specialized playgrounds for pre-kindergarten students. However, there is no funding source for these. In many instances, schools must rely on community fundraising to install, improve or replace playgrounds.
Universal playgrounds have been a goal of Wood County Schools for years, but with few funding sources officials have been unable to move forward with those improvements.
Last year, Wood County Schools hoped to use federal pandemic relief funds to pay for accessibility upgrades, but found the money could not be used for playgrounds. During a public meeting in July, parents Heather and Brian Lee, along with their daughter Corrine, a second-grader at Gihon Elementary, spoke to the board about the need for inclusive playgrounds. Officials said they believed in the project and vowed to look for alternate ways to fund the playground additions.
The Lees, along with other parents, educators and community members, have since served on a playground committee to help see this project realized using excess levy funds.
Tuesday’s vote by the Wood County Board of Education to begin Phase 1 of the project is the first step in a plan to bring improvements to playgrounds throughout Wood County.
“I want to be the first one who watches Corinne step onto that playground,” board President Justin Raber said Tuesday. “I want every child to be included.”